Lorgnette.



G., A. .BRIGG'S. LORGNETTB.

- lAPPLICATION FILED FBB.16,1912.

1,035,853. Patented Augpzo, 1912.

@me nofz @wi/Imm@ GEORGE A. BRIGGS, NEW YORK, N. Y.

LORGNETTE.

Specicat'ion of Letters Patent. i Patented Allg. 20, 1912.

Application led February 16, 1912. Serial No. 678,056.

This invention relates to improvements in lorgnettes, and has for its object 'the provi-v sion of a device of this cha acter possessing practical mechanical construction, capable rof folding into the smallest possible space,

and presenting either in open or closed condition a refined and pleasing appearance.

Heretofore in 'the' art, lorgnettes of many types have been provided, ,in the more useful of which the lenses were folded into a super,

posed relation where they were retained by a latch, and springs were employed for throwing the lenses into normally open relation upon release of the catch. At best, however, the spring and catch constructions heretofore known have been of such a nature as to require objectionable projecting parts or devices constituting unnecessary, unsightly, protuberances, and preventing that compactness and neatness desired in an article of the character under consideration.

In keeping with the present invention, constituting 'as it does an improvementl in the art, as distinguished from those devices to which I have above alluded, my lorgnette is constructed, and the parts thereof are so arranged that in its folded condition the same occupies substantially no more space than the thickness of the superposed eyeglasses or lenses, while in open position the frames and bridge of the glasses are not unduly thick or of unusual shape suggestive so frequently of clumsy workmanship or weight. To these ends the device comprises whatmay be styleda stub handle substantially confined within the surfaces of which is a latch, said handle carrying one of the lens frames and lens therein` the other complementary lens frame and lens, and a hollow bridge or nose piece pivotally connecting the two lens frames and inclosing a spring also connected to said lens f'ames, adapted normally to maintain the lenses in open or operative relation, while permitting the lenses to close into superposed relation and be there locked by the llatch when the proper' force to overcome the tension of the spring is applied.

For the sake of imparting a better' and full understanding of the invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, as will readily appear to those skilled in the art, the invention is capable of embodiment in forms and devices other than that herein specifically set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete lorgnette in open condition, Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same inclosed condition, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, primarily for the purpose of illustrating the hollow nose piece or bridge with the spring confined therein, and the manner of connecting the lens .frames to the bridge or nose piece and to the spring, Fig. t is a longitudinal sectional view on the line l-4 of Fig. Q, and Fig. 5 is an edge view.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference letters designate the same elements in the several views, A-A represent a pair of glasses or lenses of any desired character, capable of performing thc uses for which they may be intended; B is the rim or 'frame of what may be termed the outer lens; C the rim or frame of the inner lens; D the nose piece or bridge, and IC the handle. So far as these various elclnents, broadly speaking, and their general arrangement are concerned, they Inay be considered as conventional or usual in this art. It is rallier to the iml'novements in these elements and their relation to seizure thc new results hereinabove outlined and as will hereinafter develop, that the present invention pertains.

The bridge or nose piece D is in outline arched, as shown, and in construction is tuears g for the reception of corresponding pivoted vlugs g on the lens frames B and C,

relation. e l

pivots G passing through said ears and lugs to pivotally connect'the lens frames to the bridge or nose p-iece. l

Pivotally connected to the lugs g at points offset from or eccentric to the pivots Ggf-as represented at Hf-arelinks L, one connected to each lug g and `to-an end f of the spring F. By' reason ofthe pivoting of the lens frames and incidentally the lenses carried thereby tothe bridge or nose piece, the same may be folded into, a superposed relation. The frame B maybe folded in` vwardly against thej bridgepor nose piece DV-it being noted, 'as shown in Fig. 2, that lthe bridge is 'formed' on an arc of the 'circlel of the frame Bto closely overlie the latten-4y 30- be swung over the frame C so that the andthe framel B and Abridge D may then framesv B and Care inl'exactly superposed A yfurther detail in the construction shouldI be vhere mentioned and it is the sinuous orj compound .curve ,formation of the bridge,"

illustrated in Fig.`5, enabling the same to span the space from the pivot of one rim-'to the pivot of lre other rim when the rims are superpose v To holdv the rims.A in closed relation, aV

shoulder J is formed on the relatively free p or outer frame Badapted toipass into the open end e of the handle E and be there engaged by a latch l, the latter being in .the natureof a lever pivoted to the handle intermediate of itsends, as at if: and having a thumb-operable extension lo normally held upwardly through the medium of a spring L to yretain the latch K in engagement with the shoulder'ql, but capable of convenient release by depression under lthe thumb ofthe user when the lorgnette is to be .'opened. llt will be observed that the handle E is of short length or what has been styled a stub handle, and also that the latch is arranged betweenl the side walls of the same and withinthe hollow interior thereof so as to be substantially confined within the surfaces of the handle itself, it being necessary to' have but a slight' eleva-l tion of the thumb extension la above the handle', and this is practically unnoticeable.

Loaasaa immediately upon release of the latch K, will throw the outer-lens and its frame B outwardly until4 the lugg abuts the end M of the bridge D, and the same action of the spring-will draw the 'bridge upwardly until the corresponding end of the bridge M abutsthe lug g on the inner on fixed lens frame C. This insures a .quick automatic opening of the lorgnette, and while the spring is of sufficient strength to retain the device in open position, for all practical purposes, it is, as previously discussed, of a nature to be readily-expanded under' force to permit the lenses to beclosed.

When in the closed 'condition thereof the lorgnetteoccupies minimum-"space, both as to length and thickness, and a desirable characteristicv of the improvements resides in therfact that the device may be readily carried in a. card vcase or pocketbook, or even in the palm of the glove, or on a'chain l'in a pocket or under. a belt, for example,

for .which purpose an eye N the end of the lstub' handle.

ll claim: 1. A lorgnette comprising' the lenses, a hollowfbridge piece pivotally connecting the same', and a spring-inthe bridge piece for relatively moving the lenses.

2. Aglorgnette comprising the lenses, a hollow bridge piece pivotally connecting the same, and a coiled spring in the bridge piece is securedV to for relatively moving the lenses connected at its opposite ends to the lenses.

' 3. A lorgnette comprising the lenses, a hollow bridge piece pivotally connecting thesame, anda coiled spring in the bridge piece for relatively4 movingy the lenses, connected at its opposite ends to the lenses at-points eccentric toor offset from the pivotal4 connections between the bridge piece and Ythe lenses. l

t.v A lorgnette .comprising the lenses, the

l bridge piece pivotally connecting' thel same permitting the' lenses to be folded, and-a single means for opening the lenses and .l positioning them'relative to the bridge piece, said means comprising va coiled spring conisaid means comprising a coiled spring cfommon to the two lenses'housed within the hollownose piece.

6. A lorgnette comprising relatively foldable lenses, a handle" therefor,and means substantially confined in the'handle for re taining the lenses in closed position,` said:

means comprising a lever latch pi'voted'in the handle and formed with a thumb piece,

substantially as described.

7. A lorgnette comprising relatively foldface of the handle to avoid projecting parts,

able lenses, a handle therefor, and means substantially as described.- y 10 substantially confined in the handle for re- In'testimony whereof I allix my signature taining the lenses in closed position,rsaid in presence of two Witnesses.'

means comprising a lever latch pivoted in. GEORGE A. BRIGGS.

the handle and formed with a thumb piece, Witnesses:

the exposed surface of the lever being sub- CHAS. F. SEXTON,

stantially coincident with the adjacent sur- Jox-1N W. MORTIMER.; 

